Indian ship attacked and sunk in Gulf of Oman
Photo: A ship in the Strait of Hormuz (Getty Images)
The Indian motor-sailer Haji Ali was attacked and sunk in the Gulf of Oman. All 14 crew members were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard. India condemned the attack and called it unacceptable, according to Bloomberg.
The Haji Ali was attacked while sailing from Somalia to Sharjah, and it was set on fire and subsequently sank. Indian authorities have not identified those responsible for the attack. The crew was rescued by the Omani Coast Guard.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jasiwal condemned attacks on commercial vessels and civilian crews and called for avoiding restrictions on shipping.
Context
The incident occurred amid escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. About one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas production passes through the strait. The closure of this route has already triggered a rise in fuel prices worldwide.
On the eve of the summit, Donald Trump stated that he planned to have a long conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the war in Iran, while naming trade as the main topic of the meeting.
Chinese companies discussed with Iran the possible sale of weapons, planning to ship them through third countries to conceal their origin. Beijing has previously denied such allegations.
